Mixology at the Strip Mall

Forget pairing a Virginia Chardonnay with the right cheese. The commonwealth can show you how to enjoy your liquor.

Since July 1, 2010, when Senate Bill 26/House Bill 952 went into effect, representatives of distilled spirits and wine companies became authorized to conduct tastings at Virginia ABC stores.

Since then, there have been about 240 tasting events a month at stores across Virginia. Reston's will host one Saturday at 6 p.m. Representatives from Absolut will have samples of Apple Orient Vodka and Wild Tea Vodka.

Virginia ABC controls who hosts the events (the liquor reps, not the ABC staff), how long they last (two hours) and how many products patrons can taste (three, in a precisely half-ounce portion of spirits of five ounces of wine). The product has to already be sold in a Virginia ABC store.

Have the tastings affected sales? Well, sales are up this year: Gross sales statewide in fiscal 2011 were $692 million, up from $675 million in fiscal 2010, says WTOP.